I don't use the stuff myself, but have changed my mind after becoming educated. My conclusion is regulate it exactly like tobacco or alcohol. It is legal to grown tobacco, or make alcoholic beverages for your own consumption subject to certain regulation, but selling is taxable. Edible or extracted forms of certain types of marijuana has real medical benefits for some. It is more effective against pain than oxycontin but far less toxic. Marijuana is less harmful to society than either tobacco or alcohol, and prohibition only funds the criminal element and prisons. Legalizing alcohol after prohibition did not result in an increase in alcoholics, it will be the same with marijuana. Let our police and prisons focus on real criminals and generate funds through the sin tax.

I long ago stopped using marijuana, so I am only commenting as a disinterested observer at this point,but there are I think two things worth considering.1.) Pot's presently against the law, so anyone using it is breaking the law. So if millions of Americans are out breaking that law, might they not be easily led to breaking other laws? I do not favor having such a lax attitude for the law.Many people think laws are stupid and they break them. Slippery slope.2.) If we decriminalize marijuana, that might lead to less criminal activity. It might not, but it might.For twelve years, alcohol was illegal in the United States, and this gave rise to a gangster class we now call The Mafia. It also lead to a more accepting attitude among previously law-abiding citizens toward criminal activities like drug dealing, hiring imigrants without papers, fraudulent lending, tax evasion, the whole enchilada. Many Americans engage in some form of criminal activity, and I am not convinced that changing the rules governing pot will change our attitude at this late date.Significant opponents of pot law reform include the folks who make beer and liquor.

I don't use the stuff myself, but have changed my mind after becoming educated. My conclusion is regulate it exactly like tobacco or alcohol. It is legal to grown tobacco, or make alcoholic beverages for your own consumption subject to certain regulation, but selling is taxable. Edible or extracted forms of certain types of marijuana has real medical benefits for some. It is more effective against pain than oxycontin but far less toxic. Marijuana is less harmful to society than either tobacco or alcohol, and prohibition only funds the criminal element and prisons. Legalizing alcohol after prohibition did not result in an increase in alcoholics, it will be the same with marijuana. Let our police and prisons focus on real criminals and generate funds through the sin tax.

That claim about pain depends on the person and the reason. Not a true statement the way you presented it. I agree with it being less harmful then cigs and booze. It should be legal, but studies have shown that when people smoke it, they don't drink alcohol or smoke tobacco as much. Those are big industries fighting it. Also if you put a heavy tax on pot, then it will be cheaper to buy it on black market. Or grow it yourself.

I don't use the stuff myself, but have changed my mind after becoming educated. My conclusion is regulate it exactly like tobacco or alcohol. It is legal to grown tobacco, or make alcoholic beverages for your own consumption subject to certain regulation, but selling is taxable. Edible or extracted forms of certain types of marijuana has real medical benefits for some. It is more effective against pain than oxycontin but far less toxic. Marijuana is less harmful to society than either tobacco or alcohol, and prohibition only funds the criminal element and prisons. Legalizing alcohol after prohibition did not result in an increase in alcoholics, it will be the same with marijuana. Let our police and prisons focus on real criminals and generate funds through the sin tax.

I don't smoke it either and I agree with what you wrote. I don't think it will ever happen. It is complicated, but basically to many parties have to much to lose if it was legalized. Also, I think there is an issue on the federal level because of a treaty that Nixon signed with other countries. Congress would have to vote to break that treaty first.

<quoted text>No one would need to come to your home to regulate - if the neighbors don't see it, it doesn't exist. And I'm betting at least one person on your street grows now! A locked room tends to keep everybody out. There are ready to use mouth swab drug tests that are available to detect marijuana use within the last 24 hours. Most Probation offices have these already, to catch probation violations - they are pretty inexpensive and reliable. And they don't take any longer than a breathylizer for a result. They also detect meth use. They should actually be standard equipment in a police car now.

how about the ones with medicinal permission to cultivate for personal use . but don't smoke it. and just get license and grow to sell to make money

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